Alstroemeria plant named ‘Emily’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Emily’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; large red purple and yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘EMILY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typically grown as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Emily’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Chichester, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact potted Alstroemeria plants with uniform plant habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Chichester, United Kingdom in June, 2009, of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number T 18, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 390/6, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chichester, United Kingdom in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by tissue culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands since October, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Emily’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Emily’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Large red purple and yellow-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are taller than plants of         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of female parent selection have         mauve-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are much shorter than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have salmon pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Davina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,703. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chichester, United Kingdom, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Davina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were larger than plants of         ‘Davina’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Alstroemeria were more narrow         but taller than flowers of plants of ‘Davina’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Davina’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Davina’ had salmon pink and         yellow-colored flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer peduncles than         plants of ‘Davina’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Emily’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Emily’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the late spring and early summer in 21-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Chichester, United Kingdom and under cultural practices typical of commercial Alstroemeria production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Emily’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number T 18, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria             hybrida identified as code number 390/6, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; color, close             to 155A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             4 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 13 mm. Texture:             Smooth. Color: Close to 155A. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and uniformly mounded; freely             branching, dense and bushy appearance; sturdy and strong             plants; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 33 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; sessile.         -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,             close to N138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly;             freely flowering habit; about five to seven flowers per             inflorescence; about 30 to 100 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 6 to             14 weeks after planting; in the garden, flowering is             continuous from the late spring until frost in the United             Kingdom.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three weeks on             the plant; about one to two weeks as a cut flower; flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 64A and 144B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.7 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.4 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.2 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.3 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.7 cm. Length, median             segment: About 4.4 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.7 cm.             Shape, inner perianth, all segments: Lanceolate. Shape,             outer perianth, all segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth,             all segments: Cuspidate. Apex, outer perianth, all segments:             Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, all segments: Attenuate.             Base, outer perianth, all segments: Cuneate. Margin, inner             perianth, all segments: Entire to finely crenate. Margin,             outer perianth, all segments: Finely crenate. Texture, inner             and outer perianths, all segments: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             inner perianth: When opening, lateral segments, upper             surface: Center, close to 13A; towards the apex and at the             base, close to 64A; stripes, close to 183A. When opening,             median segment, upper surface: Close to 64A; central spots,             close to 13A; stripes, close to 183A. When opening, lateral             segments, lower surface: Center, close to 12A; towards the             apex, close to 67A; at the base, close to 67A. When opening,             median segment, lower surface: Close to 67B. Fully opened,             lateral segments, upper surface: Center, close to 13A;             towards the apex and at the base, close to 64A; stripes,             close to 183A. Fully opened, median segment, upper surface:             Close to 64B; central spots, close to 13A; stripes, close to             183A. Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Center,             close to 12A; towards the apex, close to 67B; at the base,             close to 67B. Fully opened, median segment, lower surface:             Close to 67B. Color, outer perianth: When opening, all             segments, upper surface: Close to 64A. When opening, all             segments, lower surface: Close to 67A. Fully opened, all             segments, upper surface: Close to 64B. Fully opened, all             segments, lower surface: Close to 67B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from             peduncle axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             six. Anther length: About 7 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther             color: Close to 59B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 199A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 4 cm. Style length: About 3.5 cm. Style color:             Close to 64B. Stigma color: Close to 64B to 64C. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Color:             Close to 143C.         -   Seeds.—Seed development has not been observed on plants of             the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 25° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Emily’ as illustrated and described. 